Music News

Damon Albarn never writes with a specific project in mind.
The 'Beetlebum' singer - who released his debut solo album, 'Everyday Robots', last year and also records with Blur, Gorillaz and his Africa Express collective, as well as working on stage productions - admits he isn't "organised" enough to know what he is working on at a particular time, so works out what will suit which of his efforts after the songs are written.
He said: "I don't make music with any paticular thing in mind. It's what comes out on any given day and then I think about it later.
"I don't think about what's for which project - it would be exhausting for a start, and I'm not that organised.
"Obviously later in the process you think, 'That person would play that fantastically', but it all just starts with me and the piano."
After completing work on his planned stage musical, Damon is thinking of recording a new Gorillaz album as some of the material left from his solo sessions would suit the animated band.
He told NME magazine: "I'm doing a musical and then I might do another Gorillaz record then I might do another solo record...
"I have so many songs. I gave some of them to Richard [Russell, collaborator] for my solo record but they were a lot more upbeat, whereas with 'Everyday Robots' we made the decision for it to be a sad, slow, introspective record. So I've got a lot of songs, but I don't know if I'll use any of them."

The Killers' 'Human' has topped a poll to find the most baffling song lyrics.
According to music streaming service blinkbox Music, which polled 2,000 people in Britain, 30 per cent of people found the line "Are we human, or are we dancer?" completely puzzling.
Martin Cloonan, Professor of Popular Music Politics at Glasgow University, said: "Brandon Flowers of The Killers has admitted that the line is taken from a Hunter S. Thompson quote: 'We're raising a nation of dancers.' Flowers said: 'I say that it's a mild social statement, and that's all I'm gonna say.' "
The Beatles' "I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus," (27 per cent) from 'I am the Walrus' was in second place, with Michael Jackson's "What about elephants? Have we lost their trust?" (18%) from 'Earth Song' taking the third spot.
Professor Cloonan said of 'I Am The Walrus': "John Lennon spoke of writing some of this while on an acid trip, which might help explain things. It is an exercise in surrealism and word play - a true highlight of UK psychedelia. Lennon did once declare that 'The Walrus was Paul' but it appears to in fact be a reference to Lewis Carroll's 'The Walrus and the Carpenter' and so, a reference to surreal or imaginary worlds."
And speaking about Michael Jackson's 'Earth Song', he added: "Ultimately this is a misjudged protest song, which sees a world in which the innocent simply have things done to them by malevolent forces. It could be construed as an attack on the ivory trade."
Lionel Richie's 'All Night Long' (12 per cent) and Carly Rae Jepson's, 'Call Me Maybe' (11 per cent) complete the top five.
Rounding out the top 10 are Black Eyed Peas, 'Boom Boom Pow' (10 per cent), Duran Duran, 'The Reflex' (eight per cent), Wham!, 'Club Tropicana' - (eight per cent), Taylor Swift, 'Love Story' (seven per cent) and Oasis, 'Champagne Supernova' (seven per cent).

Lily Allen has compared Miley Cyrus' live performances to those of Oasis and The Stone Roses.
The 'Hard Out Here' singer has joined Miley on the latest leg of her 'Bangerz' US tour and after catching the show in London in May, Lily was blown away by Miley.
She told Billboard: "I saw it at The O2 in London, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it's one of the best shows that I've seen in years. It's up there with an Oasis show or The Stone Roses or something. It's kind of incredible to watch - she's a real force. There's no two ways about it, she's meant to be up there doing that.
"She's incredible, and she has such a presence. Her personality is what shines through. I'm not close to Miley. I don't know her very well, but I feel proud of her."
Lily is a big fan of Miley and recently revealed plans to introduce daughters Ethel, two, and 18-month-old Marnie, to the 'Wrecking Ball' singer when her kids join her in the States.
Lily - who is married to Sam Cooper - said: "They are going to meet me in New York and then come on the bus with me and Miley.
"Although I don't think Miley will be on my bus, she's probably got other plans!"

The Libertines only rehearsed for one hour prior to their sell-out show at London's Hyde Park last month.
While the group - who reunited for the gig at the British Summer Time Festival - played two warm up shows in Glasgow, their only planned rehearsal in Hamburg, Germany, was disrupted when singer Pete Doherty "kidnapped" the band in the camper van he now lives in.
Drummer Gary Powell told Mojo: "While we were inside looking around he decided to kidnap us and drove off. We ended up down the Reeperbahn getting hassled by some prostitutes and watching the football. Hilarious!"
The Libertines formed in 1997 and were originally signed to Rough Trade before they split in 2004, after their success was often eclipsed by singer Pete's addictions to crack cocaine and heroin.
The band later reformed in 2010 for massive reunion shows at Leeds and Reading Festivals and four years later they are aiming for another comeback.
Speaking about the Libertine's comeback, singer Carl Barat previously said: "I'm not sure if it was a triumph but it was certainly unpredictable, as most things with this always band are."

Foxes was starstruck when Pharrell Williams asked her to support him on tour.
The 'Holding Onto Heaven' hitmaker, real name Louisa Rose Allen, is a huge fan of the 'Happy' singer and still can't believe he personally asked for her to be his support act on his European tour.
She told the Daily Star newspaper: "I couldn't quite believe he knew who I was. He said he was a really big fan, he loved my sound and that I was really unique. I did this cover of his song 'Happy' and we chatted about that. He made me feel really comfortable, he's so chilled.
"I remember being a kid and just looking up to him and thinking he's just the king of music."
It's a big year for the 25-year-old star, who will make her acting debut in an episode of the upcoming eighth series of the hit BBC sci-fi drama 'Doctor Who' but she admitted she initially had some reservations.
She explained: "It's more singing than acting. That's why I'm doing it. Acting isn't something I thought I would get into.'

Barack Obama hailed Katy Perry as a "wonderful person" last night (31.07.14).
The US president was delighted to have the 'Dark Horse' hitmaker perform at the White House at a dinner to honour the 46th anniversary of the Special Olympics and admitted he felt "grateful" she had taken time out of her busy schedule to be at the event.
Introducing her on stage, Obama said: "We have just one of my favorite people performing tonight -- Katy Perry. We are so grateful to her.
"I love Katy Perry. She is just a wonderful person. I've just met her mom and now I know why she is such a wonderful person, but I just want everybody to know she is on tour right now and so for her to take time out to do this is really special, and so we really want to say thank you to her for doing this."
Among those in attendance at the dinner were 'Lately' hitmaker Stevie Wonder, tennis player Andy Roddick and his model wife Brooklyn Decker.
Taking her mother, Mary Hudson, to the event was a big turnaround for Katy - who has performed twice before for the president - as she previously claimed she had banned her pastor parents from watching her sing at the Commander-in-Chief's second inauguration in 2012 because they didn't vote for him.
She said in the past: "My parents are Republicans, and I'm not. They didn't vote for Obama, but when I was asked to sing at the inauguration, they were like, 'We can come.' And I was like, 'No, you can't. I love you so much, but that--on principle.' They understood, but I was like, 'How dare you?' in a way."

Jake Bugg has only been to "about seven" gigs.
The 20-year-old singer admits watching other people perform "messes with his head" as it makes him worry too much about his own shows, so he would rather just enjoy music alone instead of seeing it live in a crowd.
He said: "I've only been to about seven gigs in my whole life.
"I think as a performer it messes with your head a bit. You think, 'What are they doing that I'm not doing?' when you should really just get on with what you do."
When it comes to his own music, Jake feels "disappointed" in himself if he doesn't play his guitar every day."
He told NME magazine: "I feel disappointed if I don't pick up my guitar in the day. I feel like I've not done anything. I'm not being productive."
And the 'Lightning Bolt' hitmaker admitted he never stops working because nothing relaxes him more than coming up with new music.
He added: ""Relaxing for me is writing songs and having my guitar there."

Robin Gibb's final solo album will be released in September.
'50 St. Catherine's Drive' has been completed by Robin's wife Dwina and son RJ following the singer's death in May 2012 and it includes most of the tracks originally recorded for the record, along with the last songs written and recorded by Robin.
The final track on the album, 'Sydney' is also the very last song recorded by Robin and his wife explained how he had wanted to work on it with his brother, Bee Gees bandmate Barry.
She said: "Robin composed this late at night, in August 2011, at our home, The Prebendal. He used the bedroom keyboards and then Garageband on an I-Pad. He wished to finish this song in a studio with Barry, for a new album he hoped they would record together, but his health prevented this.
"He missed his twin brother Maurice who had passed away; but when he closed his eyes, the three young brothers were back in Sydney, Australia, happy together with their dreams and hopes for the future.
"Their future creations of course affected the world. This fragment of song is poignant, wistful, beautiful and unfinished. It belongs on this album as one of his last works. He cried when he wrote it, and I wept when I heard it."
'50 St. Catherine's Drive' is the address of the house where Robin was born in Douglas on the Isle of Man.
It will be released on 29 September 2014

Full Tracklisting:
1. 'Days Of Wine & Roses'
2. 'Instant Love'
3. 'Alan Freeman Days'
4. 'Wherever You Go'
5. 'I Am The World' (New Version)
6. 'Mother'
7. 'Anniversary'
8. 'Sorry'
9. 'Cherish'
10. 'Don't Cry Alone'
11. 'Avalanche'
12. 'One Way Love'
13. 'Broken Wings'
14. 'Sanctuary'
15. Solid'
16. 'All We Have Is Now'
17. 'Sydney'

Foo Fighters have completed work on their "epic" new album.
Producer Butch Vig took to his Twitter account to reveal that the album - which was recorded in eight different studios in eight states across America - is finally finished.
He wrote: "We are officially done with the new Foo Fighters album. 23 straight days mixing! IT'S EPIC!!!"
Their last album was 2011's 'Shining Light' and this one will be accompanied by a documentary series 'Sonic Highways', depicting the recording process.
It will air on HBO in the US with frontman Dave Grohl as director.
Meanwhile, news of the album's completion comes just after it was announced that Foo Fighters will headline the Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games closing concert.
The US rockers will lead a star-studded line-up including Kaiser Chiefs, Ellie Goulding, Ryan Adams, The Vamps, Rizzle Kicks and James Blunt, when they perform at the event in London on September 14, their first UK gig in some time.
The gig will be held at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London to celebrate Invictus Games, launched by Prince Harry to use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve their country.
Foo Fighters said: "Invictus games, look out...THE FOO FIGHTERS ARE COMING. What a perfect way to finally return to the UK for the first time in years...been waaaay too long! Thanks for having us, it is truly an honour to come play for these incredible men and women. Can't wait to do our thing for you..."